Fuel system for a pressure tank and for a gas-powered vehicle

Abstract

A fuel system for installation in a hydrogen-powered vehicle and for one or more hydrogen pressure tanks configured for a high pressure level of at least 200 bar, includes connections for input and output lines and at least the following internal components: a pressure reducer, a gas filter, a shut-off valve, a vent valve, an overpressure safety valve and a pressure sensor. The pressure reducer is a two-stage pressure reducer which reduces the pressure of the hydrogen from the high pressure level from the pressure tank to a medium pressure level between 3 bar and 30 bar. The first stage reduces the pressure from the pressure tank to an intermediate level between 40 and 80 bar and the second stage further reduces the pressure to the medium pressure level. The internal components and gas lines interconnecting these internal components are disposed in an integral and self-supporting modular unit.

1 - 14  (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . A fuel system for installation in a hydrogen-powered vehicle and for one or more hydrogen pressure tanks configured for a high pressure level of at least 200 bar, the fuel system comprising:
 a connection for an input line;   a connection for an output line;   internal components including at least a pressure reducer, a gas filter, a shut-off valve, a vent valve, an overpressure safety valve and a pressure sensor;   said pressure reducer configured to reduce a pressure of hydrogen from a pressure tank being at a high pressure level to a medium pressure level of between 3 bar and 30 bar;   said pressure reducer being configured as a two-stage pressure reducer having a first stage reducing the pressure from said pressure tank to an intermediate level of between 40 and 80 bar, and a second stage further reducing the pressure to the medium pressure level;   gas lines interconnecting said internal components; and   an integral and self-supporting unit, said internal components and said gas lines being disposed in said integral and self-supporting unit.   
     
     
         16 . The fuel system according to  claim 15 , which further comprises a plurality of tank lines leading out of said integral and self-supporting unit, said internal components including a non-return valve and a distribution system leading to said plurality of tank lines, and connections provided for each of the hydrogen pressure tanks. 
     
     
         17 . The fuel system according to  claim 15 , wherein said integral and self-supporting unit includes a tank nozzle. 
     
     
         18 . The fuel system according to  claim 15 , which further comprises a cooling device disposed on said pressure reducer. 
     
     
         19 . The fuel system according to  claim 15 , wherein said pressure sensor is one of a plurality of sensors, an electronic tank control unit is fastened to and supported by said integral and self-supporting unit, and said tank control unit is configured for receiving and for processing signals from said plurality of sensors for generating one or more output signals. 
     
     
         20 . The fuel system according to  claim 19 , wherein said tank control unit is configured to at least one of receive a temperature sensor signal from each of the pressure tanks or receive a pressure sensor signal from each of the pressure tanks. 
     
     
         21 . The fuel system according to  claim 19 , wherein said tank control unit is configured to at least one of communicate with a hydrogen fueling station or control a fueling process. 
     
     
         22 . The fuel system according to  claim 15 , wherein said internal components include a temperature sensor. 
     
     
         23 . The fuel system according to  claim 22 , wherein said internal components include only one pressure sensor and one temperature sensor each disposed upstream of said pressure reducer as internal sensors. 
     
     
         24 . The fuel system according to  claim 22 , wherein said internal components include at least one of a further pressure sensor or a further temperature sensor as internal components. 
     
     
         25 . The fuel system according to  claim 24 , wherein one of said pressure sensors and one of said temperature sensors are disposed upstream of said pressure reducer, and another of said pressure sensors and another of said temperature sensors are disposed downstream of said pressure reducer. 
     
     
         26 . The fuel system according to  claim 15 , wherein said internal components include a hydrogen-purity sensor. 
     
     
         27 . The fuel system according to  claim 15 , wherein said internal components are disposed in order from said connection for said input line to said connection for said output line in a throughflow direction as follows:
 said gas filter, said pressure reducer, said vent valve, said safety valve and said shut-off valve.   
     
     
         28 . The fuel system according to  claim 15 , wherein said integral and self-supporting unit is formed of a plurality of sub-units being fastened to one another to form a self-supporting unit. 
     
     
         29 . The fuel system according to  claim 15 , wherein said integral and self-supporting unit includes a sub-unit having a housing, and at least said pressure reducer, said pressure sensor, said vent valve, said overpressure safety valve and said shut-off valve are disposed in said housing. 
     
     
         30 . The fuel system according to  claim 29 , wherein said housing is formed of a cast aluminum material. 
     
     
         31 . The fuel system according to  claim 15 , wherein said integral and self-supporting unit has fastenings configured to fasten the fuel system to a supporting structure fastening the pressure tanks in the vehicle.